Picton Castle's Bosun School

Advanced Training for Dedicated Mariners

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Conducted by Capt. Daniel Moreland, the crew of the Picton Castle, and guest instructors.

Fall/Winter 2007
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

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Advance Skills Without the Distractions of Sea

There is nothing better than real seatime under sail to gain experience and the skills of a mariner. But sometimes, on these hard working ships, there is little time to focus on particular advanced skills such as wire work and sailmaking. And rarely does the opportunity roll around to actually help rig a ship from the keel up or lay a sail out with a professional sailmaker.

The purpose of the Picton Castle Bosun's School is provide an opportunity to young dedicated mariners to advance their skill level in a concentrated fashion without the natural demands and distractions of being underway at sea. By joining the Bosun School this winter you will advance your skill level significantly, making your chances at the best berths in good ships of your choice all the more likely. Once signed aboard your next ship you will have that much more to offer and be a greater contributor to helping the ship on her mission which is, after all, what being crew is all about.

Build Skills and Tools for Your Next Vessel

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Sling your seabag over the rail and join us in doing advanced rope-work, wire seizings, wire splicing, basic sailmaking, cotton and Dacron sail repair, serving as if you had a whole ship to rig, basic welding, ship and boat caulking & pitching, basic carpentry, 1st Class and industrial varnish work, tar and oil mixtures, proper bosun chair work and more!

Dip your arms in Stockholm Tar, learn tons, have fun, flesh out your résumé, become well acquainted with the seaport of Lunenburg's excellent pubs, and meet marine artisans and craftspeople with generations of ship work behind them. When you join your next vessel, you'll take with you an enriched set of skills and actual tools you made yourself.

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Living as Crew…with Modern Conveniences

For three months, you'll be living as crew onboard a 300 ton ex-North Atlantic fishing vessel, alongside the Picton Castle wharf in downtown Lunenburg, Nova Scotia home of the legendary Schooners Bluenose and Bluenose II as well as the globe girdling Barque Picton Castle. Our wharf and warehouse are within walking distance to everything you'll need or want (ie. internet, phone, laundry, and pub). The big city of Halifax is but an hour away by car.

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As well as building your skills as a mariner, you will get a chance to learn about the wide-ranging aspects of the Marine industry and the kinds of jobs that are available to you. We will be making field trips to sail-lofts, boat-building shops, tug-boats, machine shops, dry docks, Coast Guard and Navy vessels, lobster and fishing vessels of all kinds.

This experience in Lunenburg will add immeasurably to your networking contacts in particular North American vessels and will open up possibilities to the great European sailing ships as well.

Enrollment and the Program

Enrollment

Enrollment is limited and this program is designed for people age 18-30 with some previous experience in traditional vessels. While you are with us, we will work to help you secure a good berth in a fine vessel for the upcoming summer season or later.

Completion

Upon completion of the course you will receive a certificate of completion from the program, an evaluation and a letter of recommendation from The Bosun's School.

Dates

Dates will be posted as soon as they become available.

Cost and Schedule

$4995CAD for 13 weeks. The price includes: materials, room and board, as well as all taxes and fees.

Course Days and Duties

Instruction and practice will be Monday through Friday. Saturdays will be for exercise and practice at your own pace.

There will be designated basic duty security watch onboard at all times during the course of this program, including the evenings and on weekends.

Reference Requirements

Applicants must include a character reference and recommendation from a previous vessel or program.

Don't Miss Out on this Opportunity

Program space is limited to 16 seats and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Don't let your space get filled and miss out on this amazing program. Call 902-634-9984 or e-mail us for more information or to apply!

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Program outline

Introduction

  • What being a "Bosun" really means, orientation to the ship, the systems and the program.
  • Psychology and philosophy of Bosuneering; "it aint just riggin'…"

Section 1

Rigging and Tools
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  • Fiber seizings
  • The nature of rope and rope work; fiber splices (long, short, cable, eye, sailmakers, etc)
  • Parceling and serving
  • Ratlines
  • Running rigging,
  • tackles, blocks, etc
  • Wire seizings
  • Wire splicing
  • Large hawser splicing; shroud laid, eight-braid etc
  • Handling heavy gear on deck and aloft
  • Sending yards and topmasts aloft and down
  • Rigs, rigging theory
  • Setting up the rig; dead-eyes&lanyards, rigging screws, staying the spars; how and why
  • Bosun chair work
  • Rig surveying, maintenance and repair
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Section Two

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  • Rigging continued
  • Basic welding
  • Damage control (incl. basic firefighting)
  • Concrete work
  • Coatings and mixtures
  • Sailing ship handling theory and techniques

Section 3

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Choose an area of specialty and spend nearly three weeks on in-depth study and practice.

Choose from:

  1. Sailmaking Concentration:
    seaming
    • Basic canvas work and sailmaking intro
    • Traditional square-sail and schooner sail design and construction theory
    • Keeping the old sails going; all manner of repairs, patching from good to fast and dirty
    • Laying out a sail and cutting
    • Hand-seaming, machine seaming
    • Tabling, patches and grommets
    • Reef-bands
    • Roping and cringles

    2. OR

  2. Carpentry Concentration
    Boat Carpentry and Shipwright Skills:
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    • - Tools, care and sharpening; safety
    • - Use of tools
    • - Various techniques
    • - Projects
    • - Caulking
    • - Cutting plank&fitting
    • - Cutting frame&fitting
    • - Steam bending frame and plank
    • - Graving pieces and repairs

    3. OR

  3. Engineering Concentration:
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    • Basic engine room diesels and pumps
    • Basic electrical and wiring
    • Tools and fittings
    • Batteries
    • Plumbing and bilge systems
    • Damage control and emergency repairs

Section 4

  • Small boat handling
  • Ground tackle and anchoring
  • Outboard engines
  • Navigation for Bosuns (basic piloting and small boat nav.)
  • Safety equipment overview
  • Field trips to sail lofts, tug-boats, Navy/Coast Guard, Foundry, area boat builders etc
  • Review, evaluation and signing off

Personal projects; Rigging bag, serving board, serving mallet, fids, seizing heavers.

Act Now: Only 16 Spots Available

Remember there is limited space for the Bosun School so if you are interested in applying, call 902-634-9984 or e-mail us now to apply or get more details. Don't let this opportunity pass you by. Call 902-634-9984 now and come learn with us!